Manufacture of concrete and apparatus for use therewith



A. C. KNIPE v July 31, 1934.

MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE AND APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 193 3 Jammy ARTHUR CYRIL KNIP (Hint c1141..

July 31, 1934. v A. c. KNIPE 1,968,691

MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE AND APPARATUS FOR USE THEREWITH Filed Nov. 20, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jwum ARTHUR CYRIL KNIFE, .BY LZQAJNJ Queue/75,

July 31, 19 34.

A c. KNIPE 1,968,691

Filed Nov. 20, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I Jrvvuoou ARTHUR CYRIL KNIFE, BY

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Patented July 31, 1934 UNIT D STATES ,PATENT OFFICE Application November 20, 1933, Serial No. 698,741

In Great Britain July 5, 1932 8 Claims. (or 33-73) This invention relates to the manufacture or concrete wherein the entrained or contained air in the mass of aggregate is withdrawn or exhausted therefrom whilstsaid mass is being sub- H5 jected to mixing only in the wet state within a mixing chamber sealed from the atmosphere so as to produce a concrete which will be very dense. in structure and strong owing to the absence of voids or pores usually present in concretelmixed inthe ordinary way. r l

Hitherto, the apparatus employedinvolved the use of a tiltable paddle type mixing chamber having a. removable air tight cover or alternatively a non-tiltable rotary drum mixing chamber 1 having a .removable air-tight coverplateat one or both ends for sealing the opening or openings thereatn. m The object of the present invention is to providean improved -method and apparatus for carrying out the manufactureof concrete...

' According to. the present invention; therefore; the ingredients forming the mass of aggregate are subjected to mixing within a tiltable revolving drum with removable air-tight cover formingthe chamber from Whichthe entrained .or contained air in the wet mass'of aggregate is" withdrawn or' exhausted during the mixing of 'saidwet mass. I In apparatus for. mixing concrete made according to this invention the revolving drum is provided with a single feed anddischarge opening and ism'ounted in a frame so as to revolve about its ownlaxis and to tilt-about a-horizontal' axis; the dr'um being'fed with the in-- gredients at one angle of tiltand'adapted to' subject the ingredients to the mixing process at another angle of tilt and to discharge the aggregate'at still-another angleoftilt'. The mixing position of the drum is one. thatis intermediate -of the feeding and discharging positions and amovable'idoo'r or cover is provided for closing the opening of the: drum. which is'soi arranged and 'carried upon the framing of the. apparatus independently of the drum that whilst: in its open orraisedpositio'n said; door or cover does not interfere with or foul the angular movementof the drum fromthe feeding position to the discharging position. I Means are provided foropening and closing the door or cover to the drum so that said door or cover can be'xlowered to closethe opening of the drum. and seal it by its own weight when said drum is in the mixing position, thus forming an air-tight chamber within the drum. The door or cover. is provided with suitable means and connection to the receiver, cylinder or other suitable part of an air pumpor other source for Withdrawing air from the mixing chamber to enable vacuum conditions to obtain for carrying out the de-aeration process. The door or cover is carried on a suitable movable arm supported on the framing of the apparatus and is so mounted on the arm as to be free to rotate withthe drum and to align itself in the opening of the drum and adapt itself .to any irregularity thereof. 1 -Valve mechanism is also provided in the vacuum duct to the drum and so connected with and operable by the door opening and closing means whereby the valve closes the vacuum duct from atmosphere subsequent tothe closing of the drum and opens the vacuum duct to atmosphere prior to the opening of the drumdoor.

The drum door opening and closing means'is actua'tedby movement of a hand lever with a lost motion obtaining during initialmovement of said hand lever which permits meanwhile destruction of the vacuum. Y

Referring to the drawings filed herewith-:

Fig. 1 is an elevation'of one form of concrete mixing apparatus made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of same; I A Fig. 3 is a detail view (to an enlarged scale) showing the door operating means, vacuum" duct to the drum and the valve mechanism interposed therein. 2 is a'framing'm'ountedon wheels 3 and accommodated in the framing is a drum 4 supported by a vertical central spindle (not shown) mounted on a'swing undercradle 5 and passing axially into thedrum through the base thereof, the cradle being suspended by a solid trunnion 6 and a hollow trunnion 7 suitably accommodated in housings 8 and 9, respectively, secured to the framing 2. The cradle 5 is adapted to be swung about its trunnions by means of the toothed segment 10 engaging the pinion 12 which latter is operated by the hand wheel 13 mounted on the spindle not toothed segment 10 being mounted fast on the trunnion 6 of the cradle 5. In the hollow trunnion 7 is rotatably accommodated a spindle 16 which is driven by a sprocket wheel 17 thereon and on the inner end of said spindle and keyed thereto is a pinion 18 (Fig. 1) which engages a circular toothed rack 19 on the drum 4 whereby on rotation of the spindle 16 by the sprocket wheel 17, the drum is revolved about its axis. The sprocket wheel 17 is driven by a chain 20 from the driving sprocket 2.1 of a-driving unit 22 suitably carried inithe framing 2.

It will, therefore, be seen that the drum 4 can be tilted by actuation of the handwheel 13 whilst it is being rotated and arrangements are provided so that the said drum can be retained at three diirerent angles of tilt one beingthefilling position, another the mixing=position and the other the discharging position.

On the outer end of the spindle 1i6'is provided another sprocket 23 for transmitting a driveitoran overhead shaft 24 through asprocket 25 and a friction clutch device 26 thereon. The slraiff'wi is provided with two driving drums27"'for raising and lowering a feeding hopper 28 by wirea'opes 29 passing over pulleys 30 shown more clearly in Fig. l. The hopper 2'8 is carried by .swingarms 31 "(Fig I) mounted onarshaft'32.suitably carried in the framingiZ.

A: re1novable:cover.or door 33 is provideditotthe drum 4, saiddoor being suspendediupon an 2 arm 34 and bracket 35 from "a :shaft 36 about which the arm can swing,'.the:door33zrestin'g'by its own weight 1 upon and sealing zztha mouth vof "the -:drum iwhen 'closed "and being zsupportedinthe open position; byJa crank arm-.37 .Whl'Ch" when the door is-closed is .removed from contact with the arm 34so thatithe door can rest upon thermouth of the drum.asibeforeementioned. Thisicran'k arm 37 is mounted fast upon the'wshaft l36 andits movement effected :by manipulation "of a hand lever-38;provided at .onerend of said-'shaft,;such movement ofithe .crankarnubeing that it"ha's a lostxmotion after the door :has aclosed upon the drumv in order to 2 disengage it from contact with therarm 3 laand-againwhen .it is raised :by the hand lever until it contactswith the-arm fi.

'Thedoor 33 is mounted'omthe arm B l-by a 1101- low spindle '39 which is rotatablesinaaball :bcaring :40 in. a 1 bearing 41 ion the; arm :34 whereby the door can rotate .with the drum and the :housing 11 is flexibly mounted upon the arm :34: bysprings 42 sothatthe door'canalign' itself-in theanouth of the-.drum and "adapt itself to-anyiirregularities thereof. .Arubber or other sealing-gasket 43=is provided on the door to efiect an air-tightfit.

A vacuum ductei'havingconnection with a pump-45is connected to-the hollow spindle 39 0f the'drum door 33 -said hollowxspindle having'open communicatiomthrough the doorto theiinterior. of the drum, so that vacuum conditions canibe obtained in the drum 4'by operation: of 'the pump 45 which-is driven from apulley orl sprocket-46 on the driving unit 22. byra chainA'T orthe-zlike.

The .vacuumduct is provided with'a filteringde-v vice 49 .whilst the hollow spindle=39 of the door 33. is also provided with a filtei' EO.

Located? in the vacuum duct is: a valve Leasing: 51 having a valvechamber 52 witlr a valve 53therein' controlling vacuum ports 54-and 55: and: an atmospheric airport 56. This valve5-3 is actuated by a stem :57 slidable in upper and :lower rguides 58 and59. The outerend-zoftheastem isconne'cted toa valve operating :lever .60 mounted ifastiupon the shaft 36,-said:lever-beingoperable when the hand lever 38 isimanipulated.

A water tank 61 is provided overhead with a feed pipe 62 through which water is adapted to be fed on to the ingredients as they fall from the hopper 28 into the drum 4.

The hand lever 38 is provided with a spring catch 63 for engaging a fixed toothed rack 64 so that said hand lever can be held in position.

The friction clutch device 26 on the shaft 24 is actuated by a pivoted lever 65 operable through a quadrant 66 onrashaft 6'7 movable by. manipulationiofia hand lever 68.

A ratchet Wheel 69 is provided on the end of the shaft 24 adapted to be engaged by a hand ioperated pawl 70 for holding the hopper 28 in its shoot 71 for'directing the ingredients into the .drum.

The connection fl.of'the duct 44 with the holilowv-spindle 39-oftthe drum door 33 is a flexible one.

In operationgthe revolving drum 4 is tilted by actuating-the handwheel 13 to the filling position indicated by chain lines at at, Fig. 1, and the hopper containing the ingredients is raised to the positionimdi'cated by \chain r lines xatsy, :Fig. 1, to discharge 3 its :contents into the drum, Water also being :allowed to' mix with .the ingredients. The revolvingtdrum-e islthen tilted to the mixing position in which :the drum is: shown full lines, andrtheadoor or cover 33:1oweredtosealrthe opening-of ithe'idrum by operating the hand leverv 38. Initial smovement r of ':said hand lever allows the door 33 :to fall on tovthe drum mouth' and simultaneously actuates the valve 53 through:thelever 60 ton zthe I shaft 36, continued movement of the hand: leverfurther actuates the valve so as to.close theratmospherimport'56 of the valve: chamber 52 in (the vacuum'duct 44 after the door: has sealed the drum rand thereby enable air tobe withdrawn from :the drum-by the pump '45: so: asto 1 establish vacuum conditions whilst the mixing operation takes place.

*Whenathermixing has been completed it:is,:0f course, :essential that the vacuum: in i the revolving :drum 4 shouldibe destroyed before the door orcoveri33 is' raisedandthis: is' effected automatically: as the hand: lever? 38 f or: opening theadoor is manipulated, :first movement .of said "hand lever causing the valve' 53' in the valve chamber 52. of the vacuum iduct 44toopen the' duct to atmosphere through theport 56 thus destroying the vacuum and'continued movement of'the 'handilever bringingtthe crank arm 37 into contact with and" thereby rai'sing the'door :carrying "arm-:34 toflift the door nor :cover 33 clear of the revolving drum mouth. The revolving'drum 4'is' then tilted to the dischargingzpositiondndicatedbynhain lineswat-z, Fig. :1, .for the 'contents to be discharged foruse whilstthedrum is' still revolving,'saiddrum being thereby 1 completely a emptied.

What I claim-Band :desire to "secureby Letters Patent is:--

:1. Apparatusfor manufacturingzcorrcretetcomprisinga framing;a tiltable revolvable'drum having;a single feed'and discharge opening mounted in "said framing, means for 'revolving athe drum about-itsown axis, means 'for tilting the :drum about ahorizontal axis, "a-revolvable closureimember vfor thedrum-and capable of revolving therewith,-.m'eanson "the framing f or suspending said closure member independently 1015 said .drum, a vacuum duct supported'by the framing: andcconnected-to-vacuumcreating means and to thetdrum closure'member and:adapted'tocommunicate'with iis theinterior of the closed drum through said closure member, means carried by the framing for receiving ingredients for the drum and operable fordelivering saidingredients into the drum and meansfor'manipulating the drum closure member toclose'and open the drum.

2-. Apparatus for manufacturing concrete comprising a framing, a-tiltable'revolvable drum hav ing a singlefe'ed and discharge opening mounted in said framing, means for revolving the drum about its own axis, means for tilting the drum about a horizontal axis, a revolvable closure member for the drum and capable of revolving therewith, means on the framing for suspending said closure member independently of said drum, a vacuum duct supported by the framing and connected to vacuum creating means and to the drum closure member and adapted to communicate with the interior of the closed drum through said closure member, a valve in said vacuum duct, means carried by the framing for receiving ingredients for the drum and operable for delivering said ingredients into the drum, means for manipulating the drum closure member to close and open the drum, actuation of the said drum closure manipulating means automatically operating the valve in the vacuum duct.

3. Apparatus for manufacturing concrete comprising a framing, a tiltable revolvable drum having a single feed and discharge opening mounted in said framing, means for revolving the drum about its own axis, means for tilting the drum about a horizontal axis, a revolvable closure member for the drum and capable of revolving therewith, means on the framing for suspending said closure member independently of said drum, a vacuum duct supported by the framing and connected to vacuum creating means and to the drum closure member and. adapted to communicate with the interior of the closed drum through said closure member, means carried by the framing for receiving ingredients for the drum and operable for delivering said ingredients into the drum and means for manipulating the drum closure member to close and open the drum, said manipulating means being adapted to automatically destroy vacuum conditions in the drum immediate- 1y prior to movement of the drum closure member in opening said drum.

4. Apparatus for manufacturing concrete comprising a framing, a tiltable revolvable drum having a single feed and discharge opening mounted in said framing, means operable from a driving unit of the apparatus for revolving the drum about its own axis, hand actuated means for tilting the drum about a horizontal axis, a revolvable closure member for the drum and capable of revolving therewith, means on the framing for suspending said closure member independently of said drum, vacuum creating means operable by the driving unit, a vacuum duct supported by the framing and connected to said vacuum creating means and to the drum closure member and adapted to communicate with the interior of the vacuum duct supported by theframing andj c'o nected to vacuum creating means and tothe drum closure member and adapted to communi cate with the interior of the closed drum through said closure member, means carried by the'framing for receiving ingredients for the drum and operable for delivering said ingredients into the drum and means for manipulating the drum closure member to close and open the drum, and valve mechanism in the vacuum duct interconnected with and operable by said manipulating means to close the vacuum duct from atmosphere subsequent to the closing of the drum and to re-open said duct to atmosphere prior to the opening of the drum.

6. Apparatus for manufacturing concrete comprising a framing, a tiltable revolvable drum having a single feed and discharge opening mounted in said framing, means operable from a driving unit of the apparatus for revolving the drum about its own axis, hand actuated means for tilting the drum about a horizontal axis, a revolvable closure member for the drum and capable of revolving therewith, means on the framing for suspnding said closure member independently of said drum, vacuum creating means operable by the driving unit, a vacuum duct supported by the framing and connected to said vacuum creating means and to the drum closure member and adapted to communicate with the interior of the closed drum through said closure member, means carried by the framing for receiving ingredients for the drum and operable for delivering said ingredients into the drum and means for manipulating the drum closure member to 'close and open the drum, and valve mechanism in the vacuum duct interconnected with and operable by said manipulating means to close the vacuum duct from atmosphere subsequent to the closing of the drum and to re-open said duct to atmosphere prior to the opening of the drum.

'7. Apparatus for manufacturing concrete comprising a framing, a tiltable revolvable drum having a single feed and discharge opening mounted in said framing, means operable from a driving unit of the apparatus for revolving the drum about its own axis, hand actuated means for tilting the drum about a horizontal axis, a revolvable closure member for the drum and capable of revolving therewith, means on the framing for suspending said closure member independently of said drum, vacuum creating means operable by the driving unit, a vacuum duct supported by the framing and connected to said vacuum creating means and to the drum closure member and adapted to communicate with the interior of the closed drum through said closure member, means carried by the framing for receiving ingredients for the drum and operable from the driving unit for delivering said ingredients into the drum and means for manipulating the drum closure memher to close and open the drum.

8. Apparatus for manufacturing concrete comprising a framing, a tiltable revolvable drum having a single feed and discharge opening mounted in said framing, means operable from a driving unit of the apparatus for revolving the drum about its own axis, hand actuated means for tiltfor delivering said ingredients into .the drum, means :fOI manipulating the i drum closure member to close-v and openthe drum and-valveimechanism in the vacuum -.duct interconnected with and operable by .said manipulating means to close the vacuum duct from atmospheresubsequentto the closing of the'drum and to re-opensaid duct to atmosphere-prior tothe opening ofthe drum.

ARTHUR'CYRIL KNIPE. 

